Alleged gang members arrested in Paso Robles carjackings, assaults

Three alleged Paso Robles gang members — Arturo Montoya, Francisco Martinez and a juvenile — have been arrested in connection to a crime spree last week, according to police.

Arturo Montoya, 20, of Paso Robles was arrested Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013, on suspicion of carjacking, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, criminal conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance and a felony warrant. Original story »

Francisco Martinez, 19, of Paso Robles was arrested Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013, on suspicion of carjacking, robbery and criminal conspiracy. Original story »

Arturo Montoya, 20, on suspicion of carjacking, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, criminal conspiracy and possession of a controlled substance, plus a felony warrant;

Francisco Martinez, 19, on suspicion of carjacking, robbery and criminal conspiracy; and

an unidentified juvenile on suspicion of attempted murder, carjacking, robbery and criminal conspiracy.

Martinez was being held without bail Thursday at County Jail.

Police began their investigation at 8:30 p.m. Aug. 22 when a man reported being assaulted by three Hispanic men while sitting in his vehicle along the 300 block of Spring Street, according to a news release.

He told police that the men asked him if he was a gang member, then began punching him in the face. The man left in his vehicle without sustaining serious injuries.

At 10:27 p.m. that night, officers responded to reports of an assault and carjacking elsewhere in Paso Robles.

A man told police that he was approached by three men matching the description of the earlier carjackers who asked for a ride.

He drove them to the 800 block of Oak Street, where they attacked him with a knife while yelling gang epithets, police said, before leaving in his vehicle.

According to police, the man sustained a slash wound to his face and puncture wounds to his right arm and chest, none of them life-threatening.

Then, at 8:48 p.m. on Aug. 24, two young men were reportedly assaulted and robbed by three Hispanic men along the 400 block of Oak Hill. After being struck by a rock and possibly a stick, the two juveniles fled without their MP3 music player, skateboard and hat.

Detectives linked Montoya, Martinez and the juvenile to all three crimes, police said.